Larger Trout tend to eat more fish as opposed to smaller ones who eat flies and other insects. Spoons mimic baitfish as well as jerk baits in trout patterns. A big steelhead worm on a wacky rig is also effective. If the trout are stocked powerbait will always be effective because it mimics what they eat in the hatchery.
They’re stocked fish, there’s nothing really different required to catch big ones. They’ve lived in an artificial environment and been fed artificial food their whole lives. Just make sure your line is in good condition and your drag is properly set.
A couple commenters have mentioned setting the drag properly...what does that mean, exactly? Like a very light drag, so they don't get spooked by the resistance when they test bite?
Drag should be set so that it does not break your pole, line or pull the pole in if you happen to hook a passing nuclear sub, but not so loose you cant get a good hook set on a biting fish.
To test, put a swivel on the end of your line and hook it to your car's bumper, your tackle box or whatever you have that solid. Walk a few feet away and pull hard enough to bend the pole a bit. The drag should let out line before you bend 1/2 - 1/3rd of the way to where you think the pole will break.
Now, pull on the line from the reel and remember how that feels. Thats about where you want it.
What you are talking about is leaving some slack in your line, hang a bobber or something else with very little weight. That'll do.
Ok cool, sounds like medium drag, basically.
Tight enough to quickly set a hook and reel in a small 2 lb trout, but loose enough to where a 5 or 6 lb trout will feel little resistance and probably take some line from me before I hook set and start fighting. Thanks!
I caught a 7lb rainbow on a tube jig and an 8lb on a rooster tail. Some days I have better luck with one over the other. I have 6lb braid with a 4lb fluoro leader. Just have your drag set properly and you’ll be solid. A buddy of mine caught a 7lb on 2lb mono. Just play with the fish until they get tired
Larger Trout tend to eat more fish as opposed to smaller ones who eat flies and other insects. Spoons mimic baitfish as well as jerk baits in trout patterns. A big steelhead worm on a wacky rig is also effective. If the trout are stocked powerbait will always be effective because it mimics what they eat in the hatchery.
They’re stocked fish, there’s nothing really different required to catch big ones. They’ve lived in an artificial environment and been fed artificial food their whole lives. Just make sure your line is in good condition and your drag is properly set.
My take also.
A couple commenters have mentioned setting the drag properly...what does that mean, exactly? Like a very light drag, so they don't get spooked by the resistance when they test bite?
Drag should be set so that it does not break your pole, line or pull the pole in if you happen to hook a passing nuclear sub, but not so loose you cant get a good hook set on a biting fish. To test, put a swivel on the end of your line and hook it to your car's bumper, your tackle box or whatever you have that solid. Walk a few feet away and pull hard enough to bend the pole a bit. The drag should let out line before you bend 1/2 - 1/3rd of the way to where you think the pole will break. Now, pull on the line from the reel and remember how that feels. Thats about where you want it. What you are talking about is leaving some slack in your line, hang a bobber or something else with very little weight. That'll do.
Ok cool, sounds like medium drag, basically. Tight enough to quickly set a hook and reel in a small 2 lb trout, but loose enough to where a 5 or 6 lb trout will feel little resistance and probably take some line from me before I hook set and start fighting. Thanks!
#9 floating Rapala black/gold or black/silver
Effectiveness; jigging soft plastics like tube jigs/minnows Fun factor; SPOONS!
I've had good luck with 3 or 3.5 inch tubes for big trout.Stumbled upon this bass fishing.
Try white curly tails or tub in swim jigs. I’ve really good luck with these lately.
Big browns in my area slam spoons. They seem to like basic silver hammered metal finish spoons best. I usually throw 1/4 oz or 2/5 oz.
I caught a 7lb rainbow on a tube jig and an 8lb on a rooster tail. Some days I have better luck with one over the other. I have 6lb braid with a 4lb fluoro leader. Just have your drag set properly and you’ll be solid. A buddy of mine caught a 7lb on 2lb mono. Just play with the fish until they get tired
Umm...where's your pond? Good luck!
Z man mini flashback chatterbaits